Kit for assembling a one-handed support for a plate and a beverage container

ABSTRACT

A kit for a one-handed support for a plate and a beverage comprises a plurality of interfitting flat components each having an equal thickness so that the aggregate of the components forming the kit is substantially flat and stackable. The kit includes a base which includes elongated upper and lower supports with aligned in a horizontally-oriented parallel arrangement with a hand-grippable connecting member perpendicularly oriented therebetween. A portion of the lower support forms a first component of a beverage support. A second beverage support component is insertable into the first component to form the beverage support. A plate support member having an platform portion is configured for placement on the upper support, and has an annular beverage grip extends therefrom. In use, a beverage can be inserted through the annular beverage grip and seated in the beverage support, and a user can hold the device by grasping the connecting member.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a combined plate and beverage containerholder, and more particularly to a kit for assembling a one-handedsupport for a plate and a beverage from flat, easily stored componentpieces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It often happens that refreshments are served at gatherings where tableseating is not available for all guests, and the guests are required toawkwardly juggle a plate, a beverage, eating utensils and a napkin whilestanding. At a cocktail party, for example, the guest has to hold abeverage container in one hand and a plate with hors d'oeuvres in theother hand and rest the utensils on the edge of the plate. In order toeat from the plate, the guest must first find a place to temporarily setdown the beverage.

Various trays and plates have been devised in the prior art whichprovide a means for holding a plate and a beverage, especially insituations such as cocktail parties where the guest often stands andmoves about while eating and drinking. Task, U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,331,discloses a combination hors d'oeuvres, drink and utensil holder in theform of a oval-shaped plastic platform having various recessedcompartments, with the beverage holder compartment depending downwardlyfrom the platform and forming a handle for the user to grasp.

Torkelson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,077, discloses a hand-held support platefor serving foods and beverages comprising a rigid plate with variousshallow recesses to hold food and drink. The plate includes a thumbaperture so that a thumb of a user can be inserted up through theaperture from the bottom of the plate to provide additional stability.

Xu, U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,011, discloses a plate formed from a rigidmaterial having a shallow recess for food, a central thumb aperture, anda larger aperture sized to allow the passage of a cup partiallytherethrough. The user is able to place their thumb through the thumbaperture and use their fingers to grasp the cup in order to hold theplate in one hand.

Cinque, U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,856, discloses a combination plate and cupholder formed from a rigid plastic web having a recessed portioned sizedto receive and hold a plate and a circular beverage holding aperturehaving a sufficient diameter to hold a glass. The device also includesutensil and napkin holder aperture.

Representative design patents in the prior art include Morgan (U.S. Pat.No. D130,770), Waltman (U.S. Pat. No. D159,454), Chadbourne (U.S. Pat.No. D185,911), Gilbert (U.S. Pat. No. D195,527), Stageberg (U.S. Pat.No. D214,459), Raines (U.S. Pat. No. D221,035), Robinson (U.S. Pat. No.D226,125), Cox (U.S. Pat. No. D265,154), Powers (U.S. Pat. No. D293,767)and Beute (U.S. Pat. No. D290,919).

While many of these prior art devices may adequately serve theirintended purpose, many drawbacks are evident in most of the prior artdevices. Many of the devices do not provide adequate upper support for abeverage container sitting in the tray, making it likely the containermay topple over when the tray is held in one hand. For many of thedevices, structural stability requires that the devices be constructedfrom plastic or other similarly rigid materials which arenon-biodegradable and more expensive to produce than paper products.

Many of the prior art devices are bulky and irregular in shape, makingstorage of large quantities of the devices problematic. What is mostsignificantly lacking in the prior art is a device for one-handedsupport of a plate and a beverage container which can be stored as a kithaving a flat, stackable configuration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide akit for assembling a one-handed support for a plate and a beveragecontainer which is suitable for use at parties and gatherings wherelimited table seating is available.

It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a kit forassembling a one-handed support for a plate and a beverage containerwhich consists a plurality of flat, interfitting components whichcollectively form a substantially flat, easy to store kit.

It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a kitfor assembling a one-handed support for a plate and a beverage containerwhich can be quickly and easily assembled at the time of use.

It is a further objective of the present invention to provide aone-handed support for a plate and a beverage container which includes abeverage holder having a stabilizing member to prevent accidentalspills.

It is a still further objective of the present invention to provide aone-handed support for a plate and a beverage container which can beconstructed from biodegrable materials

It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a kitfor assembling a one-handed support for a plate and a beverage containerwhich is economical to manufacture.

In accordance with the above objectives, a kit for assembling aone-handed support for a plate and a beverage container comprises aplurality of interfitting unitary flat components each having an equalthickness so that the aggregate of the components forming the kit issubstantially flat and stackable. The components can be punch-cut frompress board paper product, or can be formed from rigid plastic.

The kit includes a base member including upper and lower supports with aportion of the lower support forming a first component of a beveragesupport, a second beverage support component insertable into the firstto form the beverage support, a plate support member having anapproximately circular platform portion configured for placement on theupper support with an annular beverage grip extending therefrom, and atleast two stabilizing members attachable to the base.

The upper and lower supports of the base are aligned in ahorizontally-oriented parallel arrangement with a hand-grippableconnecting member contiguous to the upper and lower supports andperpendicularly oriented therebetween. The lower support has front andrear sections extending diametrically from the connecting member whichare adapted for placement on a support surface. A portion of the frontsection is configured as the first beverage support component defined bya recess in the upper edge of the front support which is contoured todiametrically conform to the base of a beverage container and includes avertical slotted opening in the center sized for perpendicular insertionof the second beverage support component. The second beverage supportcomponent having a configuration approximately identical to the firstbeverage holder component and has a complementary slotted openingtherein. The upper support has a distal end in approximate verticalalignment with the distal end of the lower support and a proximal endterminating at the connecting member, with a plate securement memberextending upwardly from the proximal end which includes a horizontalslotted opening therein sized for perpendicular insertion of the platesupport member.

The platform portion of the plate support member is configured forengagement with a slotted opening in the plate securement member, withthe annular beverage grips providing an approximately circular beveragereceiving aperture positioned to be coaxially aligned with the beveragesupport. The plate securement member includes an upwardly angled slottedopening therein oriented toward the platform portion which is configuredto form a clip to securely hold a plate rim.

When the kit is assembled, the connecting member is available as a handgrip so that a plate can be placed on the plate support member and abeverage container can be placed in the beverage holder and held uprighttherein with the annular beverage grip.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example,certain embodiments of this invention. The drawings constitute a part ofthis specification and include exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the components of a kit forassembling a one-plate handed plate and beverage support according to apreferred embodiment of the invention, with the components shownpositioned for assemblage of the kit;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a one-handed plate and beverage supportassembled from the kit of the invention shown depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the base member of the kit of theinvention;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the base stabilizing member of the kit ofthe invention;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the second beverage support component ofthe kit of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the plate support stabilizing membercomponent of the kit of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the plate support member of the kit of theinvention; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective illustration of the support assembled from thekit of the invention in use.

Although the invention will be described in terms of a specificembodiment, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in this artthat various modifications, rearrangements, and substitutions can bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope ofthe invention is defined by the claims appended hereto.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the components of a kit 50 forassembling a one-handed plate and beverage support according to apreferred embodiment of the invention. In the exploded illustrationdepicted in FIG. 1, the individual components of the are shown as ifpositioned for assemblage. FIG. 2 illustrates the assembled kit, whichforms the one-handed support 10. The kit 50 consists of a plurality ofinterfitting unitary components, which each have a flat configurationand are all of equal thickness. As will be described in detailhereinafter, each of the components include slotted opening thereinwhich is sized for perpendicular insertion of another component havingthe same-thickness. In the preferred embodiment, the thickness of eachpiece is approximately ⅛ inch, however the thickness may vary dependingon the desired size of the final product. The aggregate of thecomponents forms a packaged kit 50 which is approximately flat andstackable, and which can be conveniently and efficiently stored in largequantities.

The components of the kit 50 are formed from any suitably rigidmaterial. A preferred material is press board paper product, whichallows the kit 50 to be manufactured by punch-cutting the componentsfrom a single sheet. In the preferred embodiment, the kit 50 isdisposable and bio-degradable. The components of the kit 50 can also beformed from plastic to provide a reusable product. It is alsocontemplated that the kit 50 can contain components of dissimilarmaterials within a single kit.

The components of the kit 50 are each discrete items which would layflat prior to assembly. However, for ease of description herein, thehorizontal/vertical reference directions for each component areindicated for the individual component as they would be oriented in thefinal assembled device.

As shown in FIG. 3, the kit 50 includes a flat base member 11 whichincludes elongated upper and lower supports 12, 14 which are aligned ina horizontally-oriented parallel arrangement with a hand-grippableconnecting member 13 perpendicularly oriented therebetween andcontiguous to the upper and lower supports 12,14. A portion of the lowersupport 12 forms a first component of a beverage support 21. As can beseen in FIG. 2, a second beverage support component 24 is insertableinto the first component 21 to form the beverage support 22. A platesupport member 16 having an approximately circular platform portion 161is configured for placement on the upper support 12. The plate supportmember 16 has an annular beverage grip 20 extending therefrom. In use, abeverage container can be inserted through the annular beverage grip 20and seated in the beverage grip 22.

As can be best seen in FIG. 3, the vertical distance between the uppersupport 14 and the lower support 12 is sufficient to allow a user tograsp the connecting member 13 with their entire hand. The lower support12 has a front section 15 and rear section 17 which extend diametricallyfrom the connecting member 13. The rear section 17 has a distal end 17 aand a proximal end 17 b which is contiguous to the connecting member 13,and upper and lower edges 27 a,b. The front section 15 has an upper edgeand lower edges 37 a,b, with the lower edge 37 b being in linearalignment with the lower edge 27 b of the front section 15 so that thebase member 11 can be placed on a support surface.

The upper edge 27 a of said rear section 17 includes a vertical slottedopening 43 therein proximate the distal end 17 a which receives theelongated base stabilizing member 72 shown in FIG. 4. The basestabilizing member 72 has a horizontal linear lower edge 74 and an upperedge 75, and includes a vertical slotted opening 47 centered in thelinear lower edge 75. The slotted opening 47 is sized for engagementwith the slotted opening 43 in the rear section 17. To assemble the kit,the slotted opening 47 of the base stabilizing member 72 is insertedinto the slotted opening 32 in the rear section 17 in a perpendiculararrangement. The base stabilizing member 72 is configured such that saidlower edge 74 is coplanar with the lower edge 27 b of the rear section15 when the base stabilizing member 72 is inserted therein.

Referring again to FIG. 3, it is seen that the front section 15 of has aproximal end 15 b contiguous to the connecting member 13 and a distalend 15 a which is configured as a first beverage support component 21having first and second vertical side edges 36 a,b. The first beveragesupport component 21 is integral with the front section 15, with thehorizontal length thereof being defined as a the distance between firstand second vertical side edges 36 a,b. The vertical side edges 36 a,bdefining the maximum height of the first beverage support component 21.The overall height of the beverage support component 21 is preferablygreater than that of the rear section 15 in order to position a beveragecontainer within the annular grip 20. The portion of the front section15 proximate the connecting member 13 is approximately the same heightas the height of the rear section 17, and can be dimensioned to providean arcuate finger-gripping region 52 which allows the fingers of user tocomfortably wrap around the connecting member 13. The first verticalside edge 36 a is contiguous to the finger gripping region 52 and thesecond vertical side edge 36 b can form the distal edge of the frontsection 15.

The first beverage support component 21 has an upper edge 137, whichforms part of upper edge 37 a of the front section 15. The upper edge137 includes a shallow recess 35 therein which is contoured to conformto the diameter of the lower surface of a beverage container. The recess35 can have at least two tiers symmetrical about a vertical center lineof the component 21 which are dimensioned to accommodate drinkingvessels of corresponding diameters. The first beverage support component21 includes a vertical slotted opening which is aligned with thehorizontal center of the recess 35. In the preferred embodiment, thecomponent 21 includes the slot 42 in the lower edge 37 b of the frontsection 17 sized for perpendicular insertion of the second beveragesupport component 24.

As shown in FIG. 5, the second beverage support 24 component has aconfiguration approximately identical to the first beverage holdercomponent 21 (as defined by the horizontal distance between verticaledges 36 a,b of component 21). The second beverage support component 25has an upper edge 237, opposing side edges136 a,b, and a lower edge 238.The opposing side edges 136 a,b have a height equal to vertical sideedge 36 b. The top edge 237 is identical to the top edge 137 of thefirst beverage support component 21, and includes a vertical slottedopening 46 in the horizontal center which is complementary to theslotted opening 42. The slotted openings 42 and 46 are mated so that thesecond beverage support component 24 is perpendicularly insertable intosaid first beverage support component 21 to form the beverage support22. It will be appreciated that arrangement of the slotted openings inthe first and second beverage support components can be reversed fromwhat is described herein.

As seen in FIG. 3, the upper support 14 has a a linear upper edge 19, adistal end 14 a and a proximal end 14 b. The distal end 14 aapproximately vertically aligned with said distal end 17 a of the rearsection 17. A plate securement member 18 is contiguous to the uppersupport 14 and the connecting member 13, and extends upwardly from theproximal end 14 b of the upper support 14. The plate securement member18 can include an upwardly angled slotted opening 51 therein orientedtoward the upper edge 19. The slotted opening is preferably configuredas a clip to which can receive the rim of a plate. The plate securementmember 18 includes a horizontal slotted opening 45 sized forperpendicular insertion of the plate support member 16. The lower edgeof the slotted opening 45 is in linear alignment with the upper edge 19.

The upper edge 19 includes a vertical slotted opening 44 which receivesthe plate support stabilizing member 82 shown in FIG. 6. The platesupport stabilizing member 82 has a horizontally oriented linear topedge 84 and a lower edge 85. The lower edge 85 has a vertical slottedopening 49 located at the horizontal center which is sized andpositioned for engagement with the slotted opening 44 in the upper edge19. This allows the plate support stabilizing member 82 to be insertedinto the upper support 14 in a perpendicular arrangement, with the platestabilizing member 82 being dimensioned such that the linear top edge 84of the plate support stabilizing member 82 is coplanar with the with thelinear top edge 19 of the upper support 14 when inserted.

The plate support member 16 shown in detail in FIG. 7. The platformportion 161 is illustrated as having an approximately circularconfiguration, however the platform can have any desired symmetricalconfiguration which is sized for placement of a plate thereon. The platesupport member 16 is preferably symmetrical about a longitudinal centerline a-a′ which bisects the annular beverage grip 20. The annularbeverage grip 20 defines an approximately circular beverage receivingaperture 120 which is positioned to be coaxially aligned with thebeverage support 22 when the kit 50 is assembled. The annular beveragegrip 20 can have an opening or gap 29 coincident with the longitudinalaxis of said plate support member 16 to facilitate insertion and removalof a beverage from the beverage support 22.

The plate support member 16 has a slotted opening 41 opening extendingfrom the beverage receiving aperture 120 along the longitudinal centerline a-a′ configured for engagement with slotted opening 45 in platesecurement member 18. In use, the plate support member 16 is insertedinto the plate securement member 18 by aligning the slots, and the platesupport member 16 is supported by the upper support 14 and plate supportstabilizing member 72.

FIG. 8 illustrates the one-handed support 10 assembled from the kit 50in use. To use the support 10, the connecting member 13 can be manuallygrasped (by hand 4). A cup 5 can be inserted through the annularbeverage grip 20 so that it is seated in the beverage support 22. Aplate 6 can placed on plate support member 16 and the rim inserted intothe angled slotted opening 51 to prevent the plate from sliding. Thedesign of the support 10 advantageously allows the support 10 to standupright on a level surface when not being carried by hand.

The kit 50 of the invention is economical to produce, and easy to storein large quantities because of the flat configuration when unassembled.The support 10 is also useful as a promotional item with logos and otheradvertisements printed thereon.

It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention isillustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangementof parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that various changes may be made without departingfrom the scope of the invention and the invention is not to beconsidered limited to what is shown and described in the specificationand drawings.

1. A kit providing interfitting components wherefrom a one-handedsupport for a disposable plate and a drinking vessel can be constructed,said kit comprising; a plurality of interfitting unitary components,each of said components being flat and having equal thickness wherebythe aggregate of said components forming said kit is substantially flatand stackable, said plurality of interfitting components comprising: abase member, said base member comprising elongated upper and lowersupports aligned in a horizontally-oriented parallel arrangement with ahand-grippable connecting member contiguous to said upper and lowersupports and perpendicularly oriented therebetween, said lower supporthaving front and rear sections extending diametrically from saidconnecting member wherein said rear section has a distal end and aproximal end wherein said proximal end is adjacent to said connectingmember, said front and rear sections each including upper and loweredges wherein said lower edges are in linear alignment with one another,said front section of said lower support having a proximal end adjacentto said connecting member and a distal end extending therefromconfigured as a first beverage support component, said first beveragesupport component having a vertical slotted opening in the horizontalcenter thereof sized for perpendicular insertion of a component havingsaid thickness, said upper support having a horizontal linear top edgeand a distal end in approximate vertical alignment with said distal endof said lower support and a proximal end terminating at said connectingmember; said upper support having a plate securement member extendingupwardly from said proximal end including a horizontal slotted openingtherein sized for perpendicular insertion of a component having saidthickness, said horizontal slotted slot having a lower edge in linearalignment with said upper edge of said upper support; a second beveragesupport component having a configuration approximately identical to saidfirst beverage holder component having a complementary slotted openingwherein said second beverage support component is perpendicularlyinsertable into said first beverage support component to form a beveragesupport; and a plate support member having a platform portion configuredfor placement on said upper support and configured for engagement withsaid slotted opening in said plate securement member, said platformportion dimensioned for placement of a plate thereon and having anannular beverage grip extending therefrom defining an approximatelycircular beverage receiving aperture positioned to be coaxially alignedwith said beverage support; whereby said kit can be assembled and saidconnecting member is available as a hand grip, and a plate can be placedon said plate support member and a drinking vessel can be placed in saidbeverage holder and held upright therein with said annular beveragegrip.
 2. The kit of claim 1, wherein said front and rear sections ofsaid lower support are of approximately equal length.
 3. The kit ofclaim 1, wherein said lower edges of said front and rear section areadapted for placement on a support surface, and said rear sectionincludes a vertical slotted opening in said upper edge proximate saiddistal end sized for perpendicular insertion of a component having saidthickness; and said plurality of interfitting components furthercomprises an elongated base stabilizing member having a horizontallinear lower edge and including a slotted opening centered in saidlinear lower edge, said slotted opening sized for engagement with saidslot on said rear section said base stabilizing member can be insertedinto said slot in said rear section in perpendicular arrangement, saidbase stabilizing member being configured such that said lower edge ofsaid base stabilizing member is coplanar with said lower edge of saidrear section when said base stabilizing member is inserted therein. 4.The kit of claim 1, wherein said lower edges of said front and rearsections are adapted for placement on a support surface, and said rearsection includes a vertical slotted opening in said lower edge proximatesaid distal end sized for perpendicular insertion of a component havingsaid thickness; and said plurality of interfitting components furthercomprises an elongated stabilizing member having a horizontal linearlower edge and an upper edge wherein said upper edge includes a slottedopening centered therein sized for engagement with said slot on saidrear section, said first stabilizing member being insertable into saidslot in said rear section in a perpendicular arrangement, saidstabilizing member being configured such that said lower edge of saidfirst stabilizing member is vertically aligned with said lower edge ofsaid rear section when said stabilizing member is inserted therein. 5.The kit of claim 1, wherein said rear section has a height, and saidportion of said front support proximate said connecting member forms afinger-gripping region having a height approximately equal to said rearsection, and said first beverage support component has first and secondvertical walls forming said first beverage support component has aheight greater than said height of said rear section, wherein said firstvertical wall is contiguous to said finger-gripping region and saidsecond vertical wall forms a distal edge of said front section.
 6. Thekit of claim 5, wherein said first beverage support component includes arecess in said upper edge of said front support contoured to conform tothe diameter of the lower surface of a beverage container, and saidvertical slotted opening is aligned with the horizontal center of saidrecess.
 7. The kit of claim 6, wherein said recess has at least twotiers therein symmetrical about a horizontal center line which aredimensioned to accommodate beverage containers of correspondingdiameters.
 8. The kit of claim 1, wherein said linear top edge of saidupper support has a vertical slotted opening therein formed as verticalslot sized for perpendicular insertion of a component having saidthickness, and said plurality of interfitting components furthercomprises a plate support stabilizing member having a linear top edgeand a lower edge, wherein said lower edge has a vertical slotted openingtherein sized and positioned for engagement with said vertical slot insaid linear top edge of said upper support to allow said plate supportstabilizing member to be inserted into said upper support in aperpendicular arrangement, and said plate support stabilizing memberbeing dimensioned such that said linear top edge of said plate supportstabilizing member is coplanar with said linear top edge of said uppersupport when inserted therein.
 9. The kit of claim 1, further whereinsaid plate support member further comprises a slotted opening extendingfrom said beverage holding aperture along a longitudinal axis of saidplate support member, wherein said slot is complementary to said slot insaid plate securement member allowing said plate support member to beinserted therein.
 10. The kit of claim 1, wherein said platform portionof said plate support member is approximately circular.
 11. The kit ofclaim 1, wherein said plate securement member includes an upwardlyangled slotted opening therein oriented toward said platform portion andconfigured to form a clip to secure hold plate rim therein.
 12. The kitof claim 1, wherein said annular beverage grip has an opening thereincoincident with a longitudinal axis of said plate support member. 13.The kit of claim 1, wherein said plurality of interfitting componentsare constructed from press board paper product.
 14. The kit of claim 11,wherein said plurality of interfitting components are punch cut frompress board paper product.
 15. The kit of claim 1, wherein saidplurality of plurality of interfitting components are constructed fromplastic.
 16. A one-handed support for a disposable plate and a beverage,comprising; a horizontally oriented elongated base adapted for placementon a support surface, a vertically oriented central hand-grippableconnecting member having an upper end and a lower end, said base havingfront and rear sections contiguous to and extending diametrically fromsaid lower end of said vertical central hand-grippable connectingmember, said rear section including a perpendicular stabilizing memberaffixed thereto adapted for placement on a support surface; said frontsection having a beverage support affixed thereto configured to receivethe base of a drinking vessel and hold the vessel in an upright positionnormal to said base, a plate support member having a circular platformcontiguous to and extending perpendicular from said connecting member inparallel alignment with said rear section of said base; a platesecurement member extending upwardly from said connecting membersubstantially normal to said platform and having an angled slottedaperture therein adjacent said platform configured to hold the rim of aplate resting thereon, and an annular beverage grip extending therefromdefining an approximately circular beverage receiving aperturepositioned to be coaxially aligned with said beverage support, wherebysaid connecting member is available as a hand grip, and a plate can beplaced on said plate support member and a beverage can be placed in saidbeverage holder and held upright therein with said annular beveragegrip.
 17. The support of claim 16, wherein said support is constructedfrom press board paper product.
 18. The support of claim 16, whereinsaid support is constructed from injection molded plastic.